Interesting scene that has been set up here. I like how the lady is blurred out as she walks away into the distance into the light, while he's left in the dark (or partially so).

Very suggestive and nicely composed. I wish that his attire was more "prisoner", as this looks pretty fashionable for someone in lock-down.

Very effective expression on his face too--as if he can't bear to take another look......cc

Wow - this is a great story picture. The sexy prison guard that has just walked away from a "interogation". The lighting is superb and fits the institutional look perfectly. I don't get the patch on the guy's shoulder. Where in the world did you manage to take this shot?

Sorry I dont have a comment but I wanted to tell you I really like this shot, I will check back to see the answers to some of the other posts

great work

Thomas, it's interesting, I was thinking she was just a regular visitor dressed sexy. But now revisiting the image, I see the stick in her hand. Of course she could just be an aggressive visitor in a low security prison. But then I don't buy that either.

The patch on the guy's arm... It is a Police uniform. Don't ask me what this patch means, but I believe I have seen it before. The photo was shot in the old Chicago Police Headquarters on South State street. The Building is now gone. I was the last to go inside and photograph the place.

hi all. just to clarify, that patch is the flag of chicago. brilliant photos, by the way. i have lurked for some time, chris, and enjoy your shots.

Chris, I think this is interesting. I like a story with open interpretations. On an asthetic level, it pleases me...the positioning of the figures, DOF, bars in foreground, lighting. So cool...

yeah on all levels its fulfilling. nice one chris

very cool shot

I don't believe it! This is so nice! Many of your photos are my favorites. Regards, Daniel

Bloody refreshing shot. Nice after all the pretty pictures (mine included).

Great! When you have a great shot like this one, you look at it until something starts bothering you. I wonder if it bothers you that the camera was just slightly dutched to the right? I still give you my highest ratings.

the colors are ugly, the guy in the uniform looks like a bus driver, and the chick in the tight skirt is just a little bit contrived. the scene left me with no other questions than: what great intrigue am i missing?

Did you cross-process the film? I like the shot, especially the depth of field.

Jail Bait?

I really don't care if you get it or not. In fact if everyone would get this photo I would consider it a failure. If you think deep and long you might come to a conclusion that I have offended you... so if you do, sorry, but you had it coming ;)

you'll forgive my lack of depth as an artiste', rube that i am i detected no insult. i understand that your profound singular vision is only truly appreciated by a select discerning few, but my limited, proliterian aesthetic does allow me to recognize what an "almost" picture is. anything else on that roll?

Earth to John, take a look at his portfolio and then take a look at yours. See if you can then string together a few coherent thoughts and maybe learn something.

who said chris was a bad photographer and me so grand? i'll cop to mediocrity. i bow to his prowess. i don't think you have to be ansel adams to have an opinion. i was commenting on this particular photo which i thought got some undeserved raves. telling me i didn't get it is a gutsy condescension and presumes there was an "it" there, which might or might not exist if the guy in the foreground were an woeful inmate or a menacing guard and not a mannequin wearing a sky blue sharkskin bowling shirt. the contrast of colors ruins the shot, no matter how true they are. and hey, thanks for the advice on coherent thoughts! i learned a lot today!

Your welcome me lad!! Sometimes it takes a helping hand to set you on the straight and narrow path of enlightenment. Feel free to consult me anytime.

damn, bested by graciousness.

... and i'm not that mediocre! i'll show you ... i'll show everyone! as soon as i read this stinkin' manual.

Inspiration works every time, you just have to know what buttons to push.

A drammatic story here ! Well done.

Chris, you should thank John. Reading the other comments, without him (your own words) this shot would be a failure!

Kodak portra never rendered this greenish cast in my pictures except once when I hadn't anticipated fluorescent lighting. Which I am guessing is what happened here? The primary light source isn't likely to be daylight as that usually renders quite blue on portra doesn't it? Perhaps I'm mistaken. Anyway the green cast ruins this shot for me personally, and I feel that the black shadows on the far left are wasted space compositionally. I would have liked better if the frame started at the gate detail in the fore, and the 'police guy' were then shifted further left by default. This would have given more space to the right of the girl too, which would be fitting - by giving her some 'place' to have originated from, in passing through the corridor. Also the crop is a little close to the top of the police guy's head, and the whole picture could easily afford to tilt up a little [or raise on a tripod to avoid parallel distortion if that was an issue]. All just in my humble opinion of course. It would be interesting to know what your objectives were here, as they will ultimately influence my interpretation of a 'story'. Then again, it's sometimes fun to guess....

G., When I was in high school, you were the type of guy we would hang out the window by his ankles to try and get him to shut up. Have you never been in prison? This is the way the light looks and there are always dark spaces that scare the heck out of you. This is my last comment on this photo, we are boring the heck out of the photographer.

Tim, I have no personal involvement or history with the photographer, apart from critique of this photo as it stands alone ........ and further still, I am a girl not a guy, I am a professional photographer, and I am not scared of dark corners. Glad this is your last word.

ps yes I've been in prison...... and it wasn't green.

P.P.S. I've been to prison too...a real one. Cook County Jail. It was filled with fluorescent lights...you know, the kind that make daylight film have a greenish cast. All the same, its an effective photo that spins a story. If the colors don't bug the maker, then they don't bug me.

Kind of gloomy mood here rendered by the yellow-green tone of the building, the look in vague of the guard (?), the blurry background...

I first was not comfortable with the crop, too tight on the right and too large on the left, but after thinking I feel that feel narrow and uncomfortable feeling was intentional by the photographer..

The only sherry on the cake (but is it a dream? is she real? the guy doesn't even look at her ... is she in his imagination?...), is the Sado-Maso leather style girl walking highheeled on a narrow line, handling a black stick with determination, wearing a police cap out of which escaped a forest of sexy curly hair which fall on the back, with a trace of ligh letting guess a round shaped bum...

He is dreamin' that? is it a set up? or it is just real?

About the colors--I asked Chris whether it was cross-processed (which would also do something similar to the colors), but he didn't deign to respond to my comment.

And G., I don't think there was anything wrong with your post. You brought up some relevant issues about the photograph. Many photo.net members would like this site to feature only gushing praise, rather than learning, sharing, and honest critiquing of each other's work.

Is she Kaya? ... where is her cat? ... so I have this answer to my last question ... a good set up then!

Are you getting paid by Chris Blaszczyk to defend his work? I'm not sure he needs you for this, he looks pretty able himself... ;-)

You made 4 comments on this page and none of them relates to the content of this picture or add any value to the discussion.

About the photo: It doesn't work for me. The guy in the foreground looks as if he doesn't really know what he's supposed to look like. He doesn't seem to belong to the place: the way he's dressed, the way he stands, the absence of keys or any other prison references etc. (note I still get the impression this is a prison). This shot looks to me like a big setup that is supposed to look like one and I can't find the intention behind it without further help...

I'd be happy to hear the motivation behind this work if you care to comment Chris once you're back. Or if anybody else for whom this works cares to share his/her impressions, that would do too.

Robert and Ilan, I swore I would not make any more comments but when people get too whiny I have to step up to the plate and throw one last pitch. I will admit to being a fan of this photographer, his images are compelling and provocative, but I don't think I have to defend his work, it speaks for itself. I have been under the impression that this site encourages discussion and dialogue. In my opinion, that is what I am doing here and now. If my comments were not warm and fuzzy enough, I'm sorry. I happen to like images that make me think a bit and I don't mind stirring the pot a bit either.

Don't worry Tim, it was just a bet some of us had that we'll make you post another comment ;-)

Yeah, Tim is on my payroll! hehehe:) Guys, You take things too seriously. You don't have to like the photo. I am not interested pleasing all the people here. Olny a few that will appreciate what I was trying to convey. The rest- i don't care if you like it or not. I had a lot of fun reading this thou :)

Fair enough. But what was it then?

I dont get paid by Chris ... may be I should ...:^))

but to recenter the debate on the pic... and clarify ... look here at "kaya" ...

BTW Chris I didnt make the link at the time of my first comment... happy that my imagination worked smoothly enough... (I thought I was the only one to dream here)... and was not that extravagant... <->;-))

It's a cinderella story!!! I was suckered into another comment by a merry band of pranksters and the photographer was not bored by all the prattle.

No, actually I was just kidding, there was no betting here...

Now I'm serious! ;-)

it's all about knowing which buttons to push... ;)

I just mailed the check. If you prefer a wire transfer I can cancel it and wire the money. Man! This photo is costing me a fortune! :)))

Hey, Chris, can I get on the payroll too?

You should ask mr Morris, who dropped a note above yours. He has been paying billions to state Governments all over the place. A few extra bucks won't hurt him. I am a poor guy with little resources. Will you take food?

You've seen how big I am, Chris. Do you think I'd take food? Hell yes!

Alrighty then! Give me a call before the weekend. You have the number. If you are free tomorrow we can go through some of my prints, take the kids to the lake and you will try of some of my girlfriend's excellent cooking. Tim, If you are interested and have time you are invited as well!

Yes, my comment was more of a broadside than a critique, I was irked. (ever been irked? its worse than being chastened) And Chris, you do in fact "rule", don't ask me why "Pablo" stands out for me, it just does. And "Young, Desperate Artist"? Let me tell you, if we were ever locked up together I'd be glad to give you my pudding, if that Holte character would slide over one. And one more comment on the photo: the model's behind isn't perfect enough. Perfect, yes, but not perfect enough.

HEHEHE:) If you live in the area you are invited as well. I'd love to see You and Tim meet eye to eye! :)

But somebody's got to check the conditions on Tim's parole.

Where do you live? We are serious here!

I'm tragically trapped in snowbound Jersey. You guys go on. I'll be home snow blowing, back peddling and reading this stinkin' manual. I got one of those Digi Rebels for inspiration, probably could have saved a thousand bucks if I waited a few days. I'm trying to figure out if white balance is something I truly want. And yet again, graciousness has ruled the day. Party forth, men, I'm good for bail.

Ha! You have a digital imaging device! It's not a camera! Throw it away and get some real piece of equipment! I had an E10 from Olympus. It SUCKED! No more DID's! ;)

... let me ask Tim.

I feel it is a humorous stab at the prison life, in a weird way. You have the "cop lady" in a shiny tight skirt and the guy with apparently a cop patch on the shirt, but unless you read these comments you wouldn't know that, so we're to assume he's a prisoner of some sort, who with all his might, is trying not to look at the fine shiny bottom of the cop lady because he will get himself thrown back into the slammer. I like the story it tells. As far as the color goes... only the photographer knows what color it was, and it's their artisticdecision to change / alter them to their liking. I would love to see the rest of it, it feels as though he may be staring at something outside, like a more attractive naked woman... who knows. It was fun reading all the dramatic comments, nice photo.

:) I see your comment is one of a few that have something to do with the photo. I do not mind the other ones either. Had fun reading them.

It's a cinderella story!!! I was suckered into another comment by a merry band of pranksters and the photographer was not bored by all the prattle. Tim Holte.

What I want to know is, why did Tim trick me into confessing I had indeed been to prison? Did he know I would get an inbox influx from worried fellow P'netters? Seems I was suckered in before he was suckered in!

For all concerned parties, I was one of many trippy little hippies arrested for planning to hold a free festival at the Stonehenge Site in 1984! I spent a whole week on remand in Holloway (UK women's prison), charged with "obstructing a Sheriff's Officer of the Law in the course of his duty". This was the only charge the county could drum up because at that time 'trespass' was not a criminal offence in England, and they wanted us off the site. Subsequent to remand, we were all charged £50 or £75 a piece, and sent home. So there you have it! It was much more exciting of course (helicopters & roadblocks), but I am trying to keep it short as I am only looking to put member's minds at rest. I am not a fraudster, murderer, or arsonist, and I haven't spent 20 of the last 40 years in jail!

So Tim, was this a trap to induce my confession? Now you have it, am I qualified to comment on prison visuals? I have to say, that although the greenish cast does not ring true to me, neither does the leather clad lady!! Obviously from Chris' point of view it was not intended to ring true. More of a fantasy thing going on. Leather fetish perhaps :)

No invite required to the party thanks Chris, I'm too scared of Tim hanging me out the window by my ankles...

ps so what were you in prison for then Tim??!!?? Also, did you know email bounces from your Pnet addie?

So it was you G. and your buddies that got arrested in 1984.....:) I remember seeing something on the news that year about some arrests, I was still at school then and our History teacher often arrange trips for pupils to Stone Henge about the time of the Solstice, were you one of the women that went starkers when the TV cameras and police arrived? Didnt they built or suppose to have a replica so people might not damage the real thing which now fenced off. It was opened again recently for one off ceremony by druids. I think its cool going to Stone Henge and dont mind being arrested, but to be thrown in jail for a week is a bit harsh, nowadays it takes a serious assault to be send down.

What is obviously being conveyed here is the ugliness of prison life ... Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island" ugly, not Cornelius on "Planet of the Apes" ugly. TV-ugly, not ... ugly-ugly. And why am I getting this vision of a trippy little hippy chick swinging naked over Stonehenge, gripped at the ankles by a druid in iridescent aqua robes?

hahaha! John, i needed this today. Thanks!

De nada, Chris, time for a chemistry change? By the way, I made this my "homepage". Tomorrow's topic: "Balance & Framing" or "Untitled or Untilted?: The Many Levels of Chris Blaszczyk's Worst Photograph Ever"

"why am I getting this vision of a trippy little hippy chick swinging naked over Stonehenge, gripped at the ankles by a druid in iridescent aqua robes?

Hehe, John that picture is much more fun than a TV ugly prison!

Sorry to disappoint though, my statement above was a complete fantasy. Mine wasn't intended to be a 'real life' scenario. In reality, I was sentenced to 15 yrs in the high security wing of Broadmoor for setting fire to my cousin... but he damn well asked for it! ... I warned him a thousand times about those sulphurous clouds.

I think Gian's post was fantasy too. Now look what your picture started Chris. You're creating a new breed of fantasists! My proposal for tomorrows debate; "fantasism v fanaticism", and no greedy option for both!

G. It wasnt a fantasy, there was indeed news reports about the Stone Henge arrests during Summer Solstice which occured nearly every year particularly during the 80s and early 90s, I remember news footage of naked people being arrested by police.....:) I was particularly interested in it because I enjoy history and our teacher talks about the monument a lot and had tried to organise tours for us but because of the troubles every year it never happened, I think he was an original 60s hippy and the Stone Henge left an impression on him. It was a more prudish time back then. Were you protesting about the proposed motorway being built near the site?

Hi Gian. I was only joking. I will mail you ;)

This page is getting longer than many POWs!!

No comments today? I figured this became a new permanent discussion forum for some of PN members. ;)

You are right! It beats my POW by 6 comments! :)

I have been away for awhile so I forgot that I promised not to make another comment. I have a good memory but it's short. I have been in a maximum security prison but only as a volunteer reading tutor. I am glad to hear that G. is not a hard core offender, they tend not to have a good sense of humor when someone says they should be hung out of a window by their ankles. All's well that ends well. Chris made us think and that is worth quite a bit in this day and age.

Now that this horse is well and truly dead, I think we can all go back and draw from this discussion one truly important lesson: Somewhere out there, in the vast archives of the internet, is footage of G. shaking her idealistic young boobies at the bobbies. The search for that greater truth begins ... now.

I have learned one thing from it... Whenever I see a comment from G, I immediately imagine a naked woman hung by her ankles held by a policeman standing on top of one of the Stonehange stones. Any other positive outcomes of this?

Nope not one policeman... I had the priviledge of four (they had one limb each). Forget three in a bed... four policeman .... well! Who needs acid??! :)

Any other positive outcomes of this?

Yep, you got an honorary POW page!

Ha! So there is an underground of PN! I always wanted to be a part of it, but noone would ever take me as a serious candidate with my attitude... :(